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One had better die fighting against injustice than die like a dog or a rat in a trap.

Ida B. Wells

The city of Memphis has demonstrated that neither character nor standing avails the Negro if he dares to protect himself against the white man or become his rival.
IDA B. WELLS

Against Avail Character City Country Dare Demonstrate Himself Man Neither People Person Protect Rival Stand
No nation, savage or civilized, save only the United States of America, has confessed its inability to protect its women save by hanging, shooting, and burning alleged offenders
IDA B. WELLS

Civilized Confess Country Hang Inability Nation No Only Protect Savage Save Women
One had better die fighting against injustice than die like a dog or a rat in a trap.
IDA B. WELLS

Better Die Dog Had Injustice Like One Rat Trap
I am only a mouthpiece through which to tell the story of lynching and I have told it so often that I know it by heart. I do not have to embellish; it makes its own way.
IDA B. WELLS

Emblis Heart Know Lynching Make Mouthpiece Often Only Own Story Told Way
The only times an Afro-American who was assaulted got away has been when he had a gun and used it in self-defense.
IDA B. WELLS

Assault Been Country Defense Gum Only Self Time Used
There is nothing we can do about the lynching now, as we are out-numbered and without arms.
IDA B. WELLS

Arm Lynching Nothing Now Numbered Out Without
I had already determined to sell my life as dearly as possible if attacked. I felt if I could take one lyncher with me, this would even up the score a little bit.
IDA B. WELLS

Already Attack Bit Clearly Determine Little Lynch Possible Score Sell Take
White men lynch the offending Afro-American, not because he is a despoiler of virtue, but because he succumbs to the smiles of white women.
IDA B. WELLS

Country Despoiler Lynch Men Offend Smile Succumb Virtue White Women
In slave times the Negro was kept subservient and submissive by the frequency and severity of the scourging, but, with freedom, a new system of intimidation came into vogue; the Negro was not only whipped and scourged; he was killed.
IDA B. WELLS

Country Freedom Frequency Kept People Scourging Severity Slave Submissive Time
I came home every Friday afternoon, riding the six miles on the back of a big mule. I spent Saturday and Sunday washing and ironing and cooking for the children and went back to my country school on Sunday afternoon.
IDA B. WELLS

Afternoon Back Big Came Every Friday Home Mile Mothing Mule
The appetite grows for what it feeds on.
IDA B. WELLS

Appetite Feed Grow One
Those who commit the murders write the reports.
IDA B. WELLS

Commit Murder Report Write
I had an instinctive feeling that the people who have little or no school training should have something coming into their homes weekly which dealt with their problems in a simple, helpful way… so I wrote in a plain, common-sense way on the things that concerned our people.
IDA B. WELLS

Come Feeling Home Instinctive Little People Schoo Something Training Weekly
It is extremely rough to follow through with my goals, but I felt a responsibility to show the world what the African Americans are facing through this rough patch.
IDA B. WELLS

Country Extremely Face Felt Follow Goal Patch Responsibility Rough Show World
The more the Afro-American yields and cringes and begs, the more he has to do so, the more he is insulted, outraged and lynched.
IDA B. WELLS

Country Cringe Do Insult Lynch More Outrage To Yield
A Winchester rifle should have a place of honor in every black home.
IDA B. WELLS

Back Ever Home Honor Place Rifle Winchester

One had better die fighting against injustice than die like a dog or a rat in a trap.

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One had better die fighting against injustice than die like a dog or a rat in a trap.

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